winds of change

gjoa haven, nunavut

Polar bear management policies in the last two decades, including a moratorium and very limited numbers of polar bear hunting tags, have disproportionately impacted Gjoa Haven compared to other communities in terms of livelihoods and inter-generational knowledge mobilization.


‘We seek acknowledgement and apologies for suffering the consequences of the quota regulations; a loss of culture and knowledge, as well as increased danger due to rising number of polar bears around their communities. Inuit knowledge in terms of accuracy and inherent value needs to be recognized and better acknowledged. We want better integration of Inuit knowledge in survey research, like for example accounting for seasonal changes. Scientific monitoring surveys have limitations, we ask that researchers will recognize and take Inuit observations more seriously'.

living with polar bears

james qitsualik and george konana

James and George are both hunters from the community of Gjoa Haven. They each come from a family of great hunters, and remember well how their family would hunt many years ago when they were taken along out on the land to hunt polar bears as kids.

Both men still go out hunting often, but not for polar bear. The moratorium has impacted the tradition of their families significantly., with consequences for the relationship between humans and bears.

living with polar bears

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paths forward

winds of change

Inuit have a relationship with the land all year through. We know the land and the ice, and how it changes over the seasons and the years. This knowledge is passed on between generations, in songs, dance, and stories - but also by an ongoing relationship with the land through hunting. Our relationship with the ice and the land changes when we can't hunt polar bears, and important knowledge on ice conditions is lost.

We want our knowledge to be better related with western science in polar bear research

We want procedural justice in polar bear management

We want our existing knowledge to be recognized and preserved.